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Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club
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Location
1725 Kilian Blvd. SE
56304
Saint Cloud
, MN
Phone:
763-232-4921
See map: Google Maps
Minnesota
Venue Name:
Riverside Park
Registration:
Full
Meets:
Sunday
:
1:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Starts:
February 21, 2021 - 1:45pm
Dates:
2/21/2021, 2/28/2021 & 3/7/2021
Rentals:
Club Rentals - online
Membership:
$40
Ski Pass:
None
Other (Equipment Options):
Club Online Rentals - $35 classic / $80 skate
Leader:
Nicholas Snavely ,
:
763-232-4921
Email:
Welcome to the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club at Riverside Park in St. Cloud, MN.
Geographic Coordinates: 45.545577, -94.143235 (Lat./Long.) /
UTM Coordinates: x:410754.882812, y:5044195.556640
Date web page last updated: March 7, 2021 at 11:20 a..m.
Find us also on FACEBOOK. Please find and LIKE/Share the page at https://www.facebook.com/CentralMinnesotaYouthSkiClub
Watch for pictures and event updates on this page as well!
Dear Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club families,
We envision a world passionate about access to outdoor recreation, winter and lifelong health for all. Thank you for registering your skier in our SkiSparks programming and becoming part of this vision.
This winter we are all facing a crisis in the goal of lifelong health for all. We have made the difficult decision to suspend in person programming for SkiSparks clubs for the month of January. In the middle of January we will reassess the situation, with the knowledge we have at that time, and make a decision for February. We will be prepared for multiple scenarios.
What you can expect from SkiSparks this winter:
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If you rented equipment we will hand it out to you in December. All equipment pickups will be contactless. You will be able to keep the equipment until March.
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We will be assessing our equipment banks and making an announcement if we can provide more rentals or equipment to purchase to our members.
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We are preparing to provide a quality experience to your skier and empower them to be winter enthusiasts, even if we can’t be together on the trails. Stay tuned for details.
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We will transition to in-person clubs only if it is in the best interest of public health, follows government mandates, and we have adequate volunteer coaching support.
Stay safe. Be active. Get outside with your family.
Sincerely,
Amy Cichanowski
Executive Director
Minnesota Youth Ski League (MyXC)
Updated 2021 Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Meeting Schedule and Location:
At this time, the Minnesota Youth Ski League has determined that all clubs will start meeting in person in February 2021 as a COVID 19 Pandemic safety measure to keep our families as safe as possible. Under this direction, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club 2021 season is now planned to be held in person over four Sundays from February 7, 2021 to February 28, 2021 based outside of the Riverside Park shelter from 1:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. weather permitting.
Sunday, February 7, 2021 (Weather: -5 degrees F with 9 mph winds making it feel like -22 degrees F) (CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME COLD)
Sunday, February 14, 2021 (Weather Forecast: -7 degrees F with 10 mph winds making it feel like -24 degrees F) (CANCELLED DUE TO EXTREME COLD)
Sunday, February 21, 2021 (Weather Forecast: 29 degrees F with 6 mph winds making it feel like 22 degrees F)
Sunday, February 28, 2021 (Weather: 25 degrees F with 16 mph winds making it feel like 12 degrees F)
Sunday, March 7, 2021. (Weather: 57 degrees F with 14 mph winds making it feel like 54 degrees F) Marginal snow is severely limited at Riverside Park. There are 3 to 4 smaller areas with enough snow on top to hold lessons and games. Central MN Youth Ski Club Coordinator will direct ski groups where to go to find marginal snow to hold this last session of the year when they arrive.Members who rented Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club ski equipment and bibs can be turned in Sunday, March 7, 2021 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Riverside Park to Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator Nicholas Snavely. Members are welcome to wait until the end of March 2021 to return ski equipment, if they prefer, to ski on their own if and when new snow falls in March.
Rented ski equipment can be returned to Nicholas Snavely's home one block east of Riverside Park's playground equipment at 805 17th Street SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304 if they are not returned during the March 7, 2021 Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club session. Please call or text Nicholas Snavely at 763-232-4921 to arrange rental ski equipment and MYSL bib drop offs.
All cross country ski equipment must be in usable condition and clean (no mud!). If a family lost or damaged cross country ski classic equipment they need to pay to replace it:
Poles: $25
Boots: $50
Skis: $85
Binding: $30
Cross country freestyle (skate) ski equipment replacement costs are higher.
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club will meet at 1:45 p.m. on Sundays outside the Riverside Park shelter to be ready to ski at 2 p.m. The Riverside Park shelter parking lot is located at 1725 Kilian Blvd. SE, Saint Cloud, MN 56304, which is located on the SE side of St. Cloud, across the river from St. Cloud State University.
Due to COVID 19 Pandemic safety measures, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club will not be allowed to utilize the Riverside Park warming shelter before, during or after club sessions, so parents and guardians are advised to dress your youth skiers and yourselfs for skiing ahead of time or at Riverside Park shelter parking lot within your own vehicles. Likewise, no snack breaks will be allowed in the middle of the club sessions this year, so it is likely this years sessions will look different than prior years and sessions will be shortened based on level, likely no longer than an hour and a half total.
Due to COVID 19 Pandemic considerations, the Minnesota Youth Ski League has capped the number of youth skiers for each club in 2021 at a max of 60 youth skier participants. For reference, we had 90 youth skiers in 2020, os if you haven't registered your youth skier(s) yet, it is advised you do so ASAP. Once registration gets close to 60 registered you skiers, a waiting list will be created.
Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club registration for 2021 can be found at https://www.mysl.org/registration
Registration costs $40 per youth skier, which will be charged at checkout.
Registration FAQ's:
1. Skill levels can be edited (anytime, even after registration) in step #1 "Household Information" of the Club Registration process. Leaders can also edit this on their rosters for any skier.
2. Step #2 "Club Membership" is required. This often confuses new members because they are thinking "lesson" not "club membership"
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, which is part of the Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL) is a Volunteer Organization and We Really Need Each and Every One of You!
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club's largest volunteer need is coaches, including Coaches, Assistant Coaches & Junior Coaches:
MYSL has a unique day-by-day curriculum to make it easy for anyone (who can walk on skis) to be a great coach.
We love Junior Coaches as well. Past MYSL graduates and high school racers are perfect coaches for younger skiers.
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club 2021 season is here! With your help we can have another successful year with the help high school Junior Coaches and others! The youth skiers really look up to them! Please contact Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator, at stcloud@mysl.org if you know someone that would like to be an Coach, Assistant Coach, Junior Coach or Sweeper this season. Adults are specifically encourage to volunteer as coaches as well. Thank you for helping our youth skiers learn how to cross country ski and have fun at the same time! We still need coaches to sign up today! Do so here: https://mysl.org/node/127797
Coach Training Info:
This winter the Minnesota Youth Ski League offered virtual and in person coach training sessions.
Virtual Coach Training
Welcome to SkiSparks for Coaches and Parents
Get a brief overview of what to expect in each level along with tips for how to get the skiers in your family out skiing this winter.
Review MYSL SkiSparks YouTube lessons playlists for each level.
Whether you are new to skiing or an experienced coach, at this session we will share some tips and tricks for leading a group. Open to coaches, assistant coaches, sweepers, junior coaches and parents.
MYSL also holds coaches training events each year in early December. Here are the Coach Trainings held in preperation of this Nordic ski season:
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Virtual Coach Training - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
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Northern Minnesota Coach Training - Saturday, December 5, Noon to 4:00 p.m. at Mt. Itasca (Grand Rapids)
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Metro Coach Training - Sunday, December 6, 2020 at Elm Creek Park Reserve Winter Recreation Area. Short sessions throughout the day.
Current 2021 Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club participants separated by cross country ski levels:
60 registered Youth Skiers as of February 28, 2021:
Level 1, ages 4-5: 9
Level 2, ages 6-8: 15
Level 3, ages 7-10: 17
Level 3*, ages 11-14 (beginner): 3
Level 4, ages 8-14: 11
Level 5, ages 9-14: 2
Level 6, ages 11-14: 3
Level Group Name Age Range Criteria
1 First Steppers 4 - 5 Just starting to ski (classic)
2 Climbers 6 - 8 Entry level, can dress and put on skis (classic)
3 Gliders 7 - 10 Walks on skis, ready to learn the rhythm (classic)
3 Gliders* 11 - 14 Beginning skiers who are 11 years old and older.
4 Striders 8 - 14 Comfortable on skis, up and down hills, has mastered basics (classic)
5 Skaters 9 - 14 Learning to skate (skate)
6 Nordics 11 - 14 Advanced skills, longer skiing, and short races (skate)
Junior Coach Hero 12 - 18 Best scooter tag players - help teach younger skiers Nordic ski skills
Typical Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Session:
We're here to cross county (nordic) ski and have fun! We ski and play games on the snow. This is a very friendly, family oriented program focused on children ages 4 to 14 years old that is built around kids having fun while learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers. We divide into seven groups based on age, comfort level, and skill level. Younger groups ski near the trail head and take advantage of small, snow-covered inclines to get used to being on skis. Older kids venture off about the park with a coach. Coaches have curriculum loaded with ideas and strategies for teaching young skiers.
Youth are encouraged to provide their own cross country ski equipment. If you are having a difficult time finding ski equipment, please contact Nicholas Snavely, Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator, at stcloud@mysl.org to see what additional options may be available. Again this 2021 ski season, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club will have traditional classic cross country ski sets available for rent at a cost of $35 and skate skis available for rent at a cost of $80. In order to rent skis from the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, you need to first be a member, which costs $40 for the season. This is the direct result of the ski binding donations that were received previously, which provided the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club currently with 30 set of skis. Likewise, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club was awarded a $1,000 grant in 2017-2018 from the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation (ABSF) Young Skier Development Program. When registering youth for the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, there is an option to add a ski rental before you pay your membership dues. Arrangements must be made with Nicholas Snavely to ensure ski rentals are still available, as well as ensure the proper ski set size is available for the child. Visit https://mysl.org/sites/default/files/2020MyXC_sizingchart.pdf to determine the ski set your child needs.
If you have a 4- to 5-year-old child, one parent will be required to assist that child during their class and register as a Coach, Assitant Coach or Sweeper at https://mysl.org/node/127797 . Older skiers also require a parent/guardian present while attending. Just to be clear, don’t plan on dropping your child off and picking them up after each session, since parents/guardians are expected to participate in some fashion, such as assisting with coaching. No experience is necessary, as there are activity plan booklets for each level available for review before each session. Once again, I stress that this is a very friendly, family oriented program that is built around the kids having fun while also learning skills and techniques needed to become better cross country skiers.
Families that rented MYSL ski rentals during 2020 or years prior should contact Nicholas Snavely at stcloud@mysl.org or 763-232-4921 to make arrangements return ski rentals and bibs if they were not returned previously. Families not returning ski equipment wlll be charged the ski equipment replancement fee for each item (skis, boots and poles) not returned. Late return of rented ski equipment hinders the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club's ability to have the ski inventory needed to properly fit the following year's ski rental requests, so please be timely in these ski rental returns after the ski season is over. Similarly, families will be charged the ski equipment replacement fee for each piece of ski equipment that are returned broken.
Families that took photographs of Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club skiers are encouraged to share them with the club be emailing them to stcloud@mysl.org and posting them on the club's FACEBOOK page. Please find and LIKE/Share the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CentralMinnesotaYouthSkiClub
MYSL Youth Development Chart
MYSL has been working with CXC to refine its development chart for youth skiing. This chart outlines program options for MYSL and affiliated Skiwerx clubs in our region. It outlines researched best practices for developing healthy, happy and athletic kids.
It's recommended by Long Term Athlete Development research, that all children participate in sports through their high school years to ensure they have the skills and confidence to remain active and healthy throughout their lives. A critical component to success as a high school athlete, is thoughtful exposure to a variety of sports and skills as a younger child.
Take a look and don't hesitate to contact Nicholas Snavely at stcloud@mysl.org or 763-232-4921 with questions.
If you have any questions about the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, please contact:
Nicholas Snavely
Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club Coordinator
763-232-4921
stcloud@mysl.org
Beyond just joining the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, consider joining the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota!
During the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota meeting held on October of 2017, their members voted to approve a measure to help boost their membership, while offering parents who have their kids enrolled in the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club the opportunity to join the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota at the $20 family rate with the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota, then turning around and donating their $20 family membership funds to the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club. Thereby, the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota will not be gaining any funds, but would hopefully gain some new members.
Some of the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota volunteers make snow at Riverside Park early in the season and groom snow throughout the season. Without their efforts, we would not have had enough snow during many of the past seasons to cross country ski.
The member volunteers of the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota have been the reason for the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club being able to cross country ski at Riverside Park in past winters due to their excellent ability to make snow at Riverside Park. Likewise, the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota has an agreement with the City of Saint Cloud to provide the water used to make snow. Snow making and grooming equipment has been purchased by the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota, which is operated by a dedicated crew of volunteers who maintain the cross country ski trails at Riverside Park and the Saint Cloud Reformatory property. During past winters, they have made snow at Riverside Park, which not only made the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club lessons and games possible early on, but also provided a location for local high schools to practice and race, as well as location for the local community to cross country ski and enjoy the sledding hill. Special events, such as the Sons of Norway Barnelopet events, which will not be held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic were made possible due to the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota’s snow making and grooming volunteer efforts.
The Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club thanks the volunteer members of Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota for all that they do to make cross country skiing a possibility in the Saint Cloud area!
Consider becoming a member of Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota to help support these efforts and make some great friends along the way. Visit http://www.nordicskiclubcentralmn.org/
Nordic Ski Club of Central MN webpage:
http://nordicskiclubcentralmn.org/
Nordic Ski Club of Central MN Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CentralMNNordicSkiClub/